Life Advice
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Millennial Life: The World We Could Build Could Be Good
The pause was brief, but stark, when some of us realized that a square on the Zoom was located in Minneapolis. There wasn't much to say as a reaction that hadn't been said before. The awkward dance feels as normal now as debating the right time to make eye contact and say hello to someone heading down the same hallway as you.
We have ...Read more
Asking Eric: Mother’s rambling tests patience
Dear Eric: I love my mother dearly but at 84 she has reached the point of rambling. She is still fully in control of her capabilities and is mentally acute, but her conversations are now filled with details about friends of friends and their problems, health issues, et cetera.
It would be one thing if I knew these people, but the people she ...Read more
Dear Annie: Attending the Wedding Shower with No Wedding InviteAttending the Wedding Shower with No Wedding Invite
Dear Annie: My grandson, "Billie" is 5 years old and still not potty trained. We have tried everything to get him to use the toilet -- rewards, bribes, "gentle threats," etc. We suspect he has encopresis -- the repeated, involuntary passing of stool into the clothing. This can happen when impacted stool collects in the colon and rectum, while ...Read more
Co-Workers Are Dismissive of Youthful Newcomer
DEAR ABBY: I am a 31-year-old woman who is not yet established in life. I have no husband or boyfriend, no kids and no clear direction for a career. I start new, low-level jobs often. My problem is that I look deceptively young for my age. At most, I look 18 or 19.
These employers, co-workers and supervisors treat me differently, and some talk ...Read more
Asking Eric: After years of moving, widow doesn’t know where to go in retirement
Dear Eric: I’m 61, widowed, and still work full time as a registered nurse in a very busy hospice house.
I lost my husband four years ago, and since then went through a medical scare twice, diagnosed with cirrhosis, sleep apnea and chronic anxiety, have bought and sold two homes, purchased a new car and created significant credit card debt ...Read more
Mom Doesn't Respect Digital Nomad's Life Choices
DEAR HARRIETTE: My mom often criticizes me because I live an untraditional life, and it worries her at times. I understand she has good intentions, but I am too old for her to dictate the way I live. I am a digital nomad and have been traveling around Asia and Australia for the past three years. I work remotely and make enough to travel and even...Read more
Parents Scale Back Party For Allegedly Spoiled Daughter
DEAR MISS MANNERS: Our dear friends Hank and Bridget have been married for more than 35 years. Each had been married previously and had one child each, and they have a child together. That child is now a married adult.
Here is the rub. Since her two half-siblings are each more than 10-15 years older, she has been treated like an only child and ...Read more
Surviving Cancer but Still Struggling
Dear Annie: I was diagnosed with breast cancer a few months ago. I've been through surgery and radiation treatments. According to the oncologists, I should now consider myself a "survivor." Since I have scars, I'm taking medication for the next 10 years that has potentially really bad side effects, and the chance of reoccurrence is a definite ...Read more
Man Blames His Mother For Robbing Him Of Inheritance
DEAR ABBY: My mother passed away six years ago. She was a manipulative woman who had alienated all family members except my adult son. She promised him a sizable amount of money when she passed but didn't follow through. As the fiduciary of my parents' estate, I followed their trust directives as written, with no exceptions.
My son received a ...Read more
Asking Eric: Pet-sitting incident leads to damage and guilty feelings
Dear Eric: I recently pet sat for somewhat new friends. I had been invited on a weekend trip with them but had a work commitment that meant I couldn't go. I offered to pet sit for them, which is something I've done for other friends from time to time.
During the weekend there was an incident which wasn't really anyone’s fault that resulted in...Read more
Date Asks For Money After Getting Rejected
DEAR HARRIETTE: I recently went on a date with a man for drinks, and at first I thought I might be interested in seeing him again. We texted briefly after the date, but the more I reflected on our interaction, the more I realized he wasn't the type of man I want to be with. Initially, I planned to stop responding to his messages, but he ...Read more
Weird Decor Trend Du Jour: Hiding Books' Spines
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am appalled at the current practice on TV home decor shows of placing books with their titles to the wall. It is a huge fad.
I keep waiting for one of the hosts to realize that anyone who actually might read a book would walk into that home and assume the people who live there don't know what a book is for. Your opinion?
...Read more
When a Spouse's Snoring Steals Your Sleep
Dear Annie: I've been happily married for 18 years, and for most of that time I've slept poorly -- but lately it's become unbearable. My husband falls asleep within minutes and snores loudly and steadily through the night. I lie awake listening, nudging him, turning him onto his side, putting in earplugs, rearranging pillows and counting the ...Read more
Boyfriend Is In No Hurry To Make A Commitment
DEAR ABBY: I have been in a relationship for almost two years with an incredible man who makes my heart sing. We are both in our mid-30s. I have three children. He has one whom, for lack of better words, his own parents co-parent.
We are at the point in our relationship where I want to marry, move in together and do the whole family thing. He ...Read more
Asking Eric: Arrogant contractor makes house work a chore
Dear Eric: I have to work with a very arrogant person, and it is hard to manage his dismissive attitude and grumpy remarks.
The thing is, I am paying him to do work on my home. He is a talented and skilled person, but his personality is very off-putting as he seems to honestly believe he is the smartest person in the room, which is ridiculous. ...Read more
Promoted Employee Now Outranks Former Mentors
DEAR READERS: I have worked at the same company for 12 years now, and I was recently promoted into a role that places me above several people who have mentored me in my career. These are colleagues who trained me, advocated for me and helped shape my professional growth, so stepping into a position where I now oversee or outrank them feels weird...Read more
This Week's Edition Of 'girl, You Deserve Better'
DEAR MISS MANNERS: My husband was invited to go out of town for a "boys weekend" with a couple of his old friends. When he arrived, he was greeted not only by his friends, but also their wives.
Our kids called him several hours after he had arrived, and that is when I discovered that the "boys weekend" was actually a couples' weekend -- sans me...Read more
Midlife, Heartbreak and Starting Over
Dear Annie: I really enjoy reading your column. I have a problem of my own I'd like some help with.
I have two daughters in university. When they're home, they stay in their rooms or maybe talk to friends on the phone. They hardly talk to me. They go back to school and I'm home alone. I really miss them. They come back for the holidays again ...Read more
Relative Isn't Picking Up On The Message Being Sent
DEAR ABBY: My husband is battling cancer. He has good days and bad days. He is not at the end, but he can no longer do a lot of things for himself. At this point, we are very busy with doctors and treatments. We have 14 medical treatments this month alone.
His children want to visit from out of town frequently. Of course they want to see their ...Read more
Ask Anna: Is my boyfriend's obsession with data tracking optimizing our relationship?
Dear Anna,
My boyfriend of two years is extremely into optimization and data tracking — he logs every workout, tracks his macros, uses a smartwatch to monitor his sleep, and so on. I’ve always found it a little intense but mostly harmless, and honestly, his discipline is part of what attracted me to him in the first place. He motivates me ...Read more
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